Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) Board decisions

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left knee, right ankle, and left ankle degenerative arthritis to obtain further medical opinions regarding whether these conditions pre-existed service and, if not, whether they are related to service or aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as an initial 40 percent rating for recurrent lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine from July 9, 2004. The claim for service connection for sexual dysfunction was remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and a TDIU due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to ratings in excess of 10 percent prior to October 7, 2020, and 30 percent from that date for left foot cold injury residuals with osteoarthritis, plantar heel spur, and calcaneal spurs due to a need for an opinion on whether the Veteran's February 2020 surgery was related to his service-connected condition.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the Veteran, and therefore, it is dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for a neck disability diagnosed as cervical strain, degenerative arthritis, and spinal stenosis on a direct basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as a TDIU.

The Board granted service connection for a right leg disorder, diagnosed as right knee medial meniscus tear and osteoarthritis, and chronic right ankle pain and stiffness.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for right foot degenerative arthritis with navicular bone strain was dismissed due to a lack of legal basis.

The Board granted a 30 percent initial rating for the Veteran's service-connected severe osteoarthritis of the right foot, as the symptomatology most closely approximated a severity level of a severe injury.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to an incomplete record, specifically missing treatment records from the Veteran's primary care physician.

The Board denied service connection for right ear and left ear hearing loss, as well as remanded the claim for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine due to insufficient evidence.

The Board is remanding the claim to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically the failure to notify the Veteran of his right to a pre-decisional hearing.

The Board remands the claims for increased evaluations of bilateral knee osteoarthritis and service connection for a cervical spine condition, to include as secondary to a lumbar condition, due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for basal cell carcinoma and remanded the claims for left ankle, right ankle, left hand, right hand, left knee, and right knee degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for reentrance into a VR&E program for additional education to prepare for suitable employment in healthcare or finance, as he was found not to have an employment handicap.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including sinusitis, rhinitis, chronic diarrhea, numbness of the left leg and arm, cervical spine disorder, GERD, ureterolithiasis, chest pains and heart palpitations, and lower back pain, as the VA examinations are inadequate.

The Board denied the Veteran's motions for reversal of previous rating decisions that denied service connection for hearing loss and intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis of the spine on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for right knee joint osteoarthritis, left knee total arthroplasty, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obstructive sleep apnea, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).